Infection Preventionist

At Houston Methodist, the Infection Preventionist position is responsible for implementing and maintaining the multiple facets of the Infection Control Program. This position is a liaison between all departments and the Infection Control Committee.

About the role

The Infection Preventionist maintains a routine surveillance program of patients, personnel, and environmental problems that present a real or potential threat to the welfare of patients, visitors, or personnel throughout the institution. This position serves as a member of the Infection Control Committee and promotes compliance with accreditation, certification, and regulatory requirements.

FLSA status: Exempt

Responsibilities

People

• Coordinates with others for the investigation, identification, and follow-up of contacts who are suspected or confirmed to have been exposed to relevant communicable diseases at Houston Methodist. This includes notification and follow-through with the Employee Health Nurse when such contacts involve hospital personnel.

Service

• Uses nationally recognized definitions and best practice guidelines to maintain a practical surveillance program incorporating systematic review of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), significant communicable diseases, and environmental events with potential impact on patient, visitor, and healthcare provider safety.
• Exercises sound clinical judgment, discretion, and initiative when performing medical record audits. Communicates identified quality or risk issues through departmental and hospital chain-of-command.
• Presents instructional material for orientations and continuing education relevant to infection prevention and control throughout the hospital.

Quality/Safety

• Routinely conducts infection prevention process surveillance to identify potential process deficiencies that may impact patient safety and lead to HAIs.
• Recognizes and investigates clusters of infections, communicates investigation results through appropriate channels, and facilitates implementation of interventions to prevent future infections.
• Supports facility construction planning and collaborates with construction through Infection Control Risk Assessment activities.
• Escalates safety and infection control issues in a timely fashion.
• Contributes to the evaluation (at least annually) and documents the effectiveness of the Infection Control Program Plan.
• Facilitates (at least annually) the revision of the Infection Control Program Plan to include new goals and measures based on a concurrent risk assessment.
• Develops and revises policies and procedures to meet current practice standards.
• Communicates all pertinent information at timely intervals to the Director of Quality & Outcomes and Medical Director of Infection Control, as appropriate.
• Responsible for reporting mandatory infections data to national databases, local health authorities, and other regulatory organizations, as necessary.
• Maintains patient and physician confidentiality.
• Participates in hospital survey preparation and onsite survey activity.
• Data mines information and produces statistics and reports in a meaningful way for decision-making in support of continued infection prevention.

Finance

• Collaborates with other departments to monitor the use of resources related to infection prevention.
• Participates in cost-reduction efforts by making recommendations to mitigate the risk of infection.
• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize tasks.

Growth/Innovation

• Facilitates and coordinates efforts aimed at implementing new standards as required by regulatory and accrediting agencies, including implementation of new or improved policies and procedures related to infection prevention.
• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development in infection prevention.

Requirements

Education

Must possess one of the following:

• Bachelor and/or Master's degree in Nursing, Medical Technology, Microbiology, or Public Health
• Bachelor's degree in another related field with previous infection control experience and CIC certification

Experience

• Two years of experience in an acute care or public health setting
• Previous experience in infection control or public health preferred

Licenses and Certifications

Required:

• CIC - Certified in Infection Control (CBIC) - Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology Inc. (must obtain primary source verification within 3 years)

If Bachelor degree in Nursing, must have:

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure. Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency)

If Bachelor degree in Medical Technology, must have one of the following:

• MT - Medical Technologist (ASCP)
• MLS(ASCP) - Medical Laboratory Scientist (ASCP)

If Bachelor degree in Microbiology, specialization in clinical microbiology and registry, must have:

• M(ASCP) - Technologist in Microbiology (ASCP)

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially regarding activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Competent in Infection Control Practices including Isolation Precautions, hospital surveillance, and construction projects
• Maintains current knowledge regarding all laws, regulatory, and accreditation standards
• Proficient with computer programs to complete job duties independently
• Demonstrates the ability to work independently with little or no direct supervision

Supplemental Requirements

Work Attire

• Business professional: Yes

On-Call

Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events) regardless of selection below.

• On Call: Yes

Travel

Travel specifications may vary by department.

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: Yes